The battle for championship of telecommunications standards tied into
wireless transmission of cellular data isn't quite over yet, according
to a fresh research report. It reveals CDMA, through EVDO,
continues to hold its own against newer, high speed technologies.
ABI declared "CDMA is not dead yet," basing this on findings that EVDO
Rev A subscribers "ramped up more than eightfold between Q2 2007 and Q2
2008."

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE) National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) claim to have set a new world record in solar
cell efficiency: A new photovoltaic device can convert 40.8% of the
light it is exposed to into electricity – which is more than twice as
much as average solar cells can achieve today.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Hitachi Global
Storage Technologies discovered a new patterning technology that could
lead to a new generation of hard drives that are not only easier to
manufacture but also feature a storage density that cannot be achieved
with traditional media and processes today.

There are countless websites that enable people around the world to
jump online and calculate the negative impact in which they are
affecting the environment and what they can do as an individual to
reduce their footprint. Carbonrally.com is different: The site offers
its users a social networking platform that combines online networking
and online gaming to deliver a competition that works to benefit the
environment and reduce each individual’s carbon footprint. Rather than
pointing its finger and focusing on the bad things you do, the site
focuses on the positives and what you could do to improve.

Researchers from Clemson University have discovered a way to make
surfaces much more durable and protect them from damage in the case of
severe impacts: The path to virtually unbreakable surfaces may lead
across shock absorbing carbon springs. First tests delivered evidence
that such springs could withstand and fully recover from enormous
forces.

You, in this case, would represent the consumer as analysts expect
mini-notebooks to become the next gold mine for system builders.
Promising unmatched portability, an attractive form factor and just
enough computing power to handle most tasks, mini-notebooks are shaping
up to become the next gadget category to pay close attention to. Of
course, for the mass market effect to kick in, vendors will have to
convince buyers of the advantages of these new products first – and
invest into innovative engineering, product design and a set of killer
features.

Balancing on two wheels, the shiny UBot-5 scurries
around the Los Angeles Convention Center like it owns the place. Made
by students at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the robot
can speed up to 12 km/hour and can’t be knocked over. Nearby, MIT
students were demoing “Nexi”, a robot that can respond to people with
face gestures and speech. Put your hand directly in “her” face and the
bot will act upset. Say something and the robot will follow your face
around. Oh, and don’t you dare have a staring contest against Nexi,
because she will win, guaranteed.

Washington, D.C. – Following the release of the annual report of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), NASA announced that it is realigning its Constellation program milestones. “Realigning” means that the program, which will replace the current Space Shuttle program and target a return to the moon by 2020, is being delayed by one year.